Hello, my name is Khaled Noor. I am a lawyer, activist and campaigner. I am also a Labour Councillor in the London Borough of Redbridge.

I am running 5km every week for a year to raise funds for destitute family members (and those in need) of the victims of COVID-19. COVID-19 has affected every community and without discrimination in its infection of people. The whole world has been overwhelmed by the invisible threat of this deadly virus, turning our towns and bustling metropolises into ghost towns.

While Coronavirus does not discriminate in its infection of people, here in the UK, the emerging evidence suggests that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, including NHS employees, health and care staff. It is reported that 63% of the first 106 health and social care staff are known to have died from the virus were black or Asian. The death rate among British black Africans and British Pakistanis from Coronavirus in English hospitals is more than 2.5 times that of the white population; and older Bangladeshi’s appear vulnerable on the basis of underlying health conditions. Mortality data has shown that COVID-related deaths have been higher among those living in deprived areas, where people from black and minority ethnic communities are more likely to live. The Public Health England's report on "Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19" has confirmed the same - find the links below for full report:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/890258/disparities_review.pdf

This Coronavirus crisis has exposed the underlying deprivation; health and social-inequality that exists within our society. It is imperative that some of these ethnic groups and people from BAME’s are destitute; and is more likely than others to suffer economically from this lock-down, including families and children of those that have unfortunately died after being infected with Coronavirus. And some of them are not entitled to have recourse to public funds. There should be research based findings and action plans to end health inequality and deprivation.

My year-long charity run is now completed. You may donate until 20th April to support this initiative.

So far I have donated about 700kg of food items to Redbridge Foodbank from the donations of my weekly #5km #charityrun. Many thanks to all those who kindly donated and for their support/encouragement that helps me to complete this running challenge.

You may find further details here:

https://eastlondonnews.co.uk/redbridge-councillor-runs-over-snow-for-food-bank-funds/

https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/halfway-point-for-weekly-5k-pledge-1-6881533

https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/52-5ks-for-families-made-destitute-covid-19-1-6695907

Thank you.

Note: Last September, I had completed a 260 km run in a year to raise funds for homeless charities and raise awareness for the growing number of rough sleepers in Redbridge by running 5km every week for a whole year. https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/khaled-noor-barkingside-councillor-fundraising-1-6315536